Abstract
A correlative morphological study was carried out on two electrophysiologically identified and located periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors in anaesthetised cats. One mechanoreceptor had its cell body in the mesencephalic nucleus and the other had its cell body in the trigeminal ganglion. Physiological recordings were made from each of their cell bodies. The two receptors were located by punctate and electrical stimuli in the labial aspect of the periodontal ligament of the left mandibular canine tooth. Both receptors had similar positions relative to the tooth apex and fulcrum and were situated in the labial part of the ligament in each tooth. The receptor loci were marked, and these regions were studied in a series of semi-thin and ultra-thin sections. Only Ruffini nerve endings were observed under each ink mark. Both Ruffini nerve endings branched, were unencapsulated and were incompletely surrounded by terminal Schwann cells with extensions projecting towards collagen bundles. The results indicate that periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors with cell bodies in the mesencephalic nucleus and those with their cell bodies in the trigeminal ganglion can both be Ruffini nerve endings. Furthermore, there was no apparent morphological difference between the two periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson DJ, Hannam AG, Matthews B (1970) Sensory mechanisms in mammalian teeth and their supporting structures. Physiol Rev 50:171–195
Byers MR (1985) Sensory innervation of periodontal ligament of rat molars consists of unencapsulated Ruffini-like mechanoreceptors and free nerve endings. J Comp Neurol 231:500–518
Byers MR, Dong WK (1989) Comparison of trigeminal receptor location and structure in the periodontal ligament of different types of teeth from the rat, cat and monkey. J Comp Neurol 279:117–127
Byers MR, O'Connor TA, Martin RF, Dong WK (1986) Mesencephalic trigeminal sensory neurons of cat: axon pathways and structure of mechanoreceptive endings in periodontal ligament. J Comp Neurol 250:181–191
Cash RM, Linden RWA (1982) The distribution of mechanoreceptors in the periodontal ligament of the mandibular canine tooth of the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 330:439–447
Halata Z, Munger BL (1980) Sensory nerve endings in rhesus monkey sinus hairs. J Comp Neurol 192:645–663
Laczko J, Levai G (1975) A simple differential staining method for semi-thin sections of ossifying cartilage and bone tissues embedded in epoxy resin. Mikroskopie 31:1–4
Linden RWA (1978) Properties of intraoral mechanoreceptors represented in the mesencephalic nucleus of the fifth nerve in the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 279:395–408
Linden RWA (1990) Periodontal mechanoreceptors and their functions. In: Neurophysiology of the Jaws and Teeth. Macmillan, London, pp 52–95
Linden RWA, Millar BJ (1988a) The response characteristics of mechanoreceptors related to their position in the cat canine periodontal ligament. Arch Oral Biol 33:51–56
Linden RWA, Millar BJ (1988b) The effect of rate of force application on the threshold of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors in the cat canine tooth. Arch Oral Biol 33:715–719
Linden RWA, Millar BJ (1989) The effect of vibration on the discharge of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors to controlled loading of the cat canine tooth. Arch Oral Biol 34:275–281
Linden RWA, Scott BJJ (1989) Distribution of mesencephalic nucleus and trigeminal ganglion mechanisms in the periodontal ligament of the cat. J Physiol 410:35–44
Luft JH (1961) Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 9:409–414
Millar BJ, Halata Z, Linden RWA (1989) The structure of physiologically located periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors of the cat canine tooth. J Anat 167:117–127
Reynolds ES (1963) The use of the lead citrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Linden, R.W.A., Millar, B.J. & Halata, Z. A comparative physiological and morphological study of periodontal ligament mechanoreceptors represented in the trigeminal ganglion and the mesencephalic nucleus of the cat. Anat Embryol 190, 127–135 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193410
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193410